Sri Lankan sun, skin, surf.

So after our big Buddhist festivities we headed to the coast, literally straight across to the other side of the country. Why, do you ask? Tis the season for the east coast. How did we get there? Overnight, local bus. Yep, left at 9pm and arrived at 5am. Nope, no A/C and no other tourists.

Day 3 and 4 (Monday 27th & Tuesday 28th)

We spent the last two days in Arugam Bay, a famous surf town on the east coast of Sri Lanka. The days pretty much comprised of: sun, that made our Australian winter skin pink; sand, that gets everywhere (absolutely everywhere) and surf, that was super salty and hard to master.

We hired a board on day 4 and attempted to hit the waves then realised we have absolutely no surfing experience and both have shitty knees. So the board ended up in the flats most the time, with us just mucking around on it. Other than that, I hit up an interesting yoga class taken by a local whose teaching standards may have steered slightly from what I've learned as a teacher in Aus. But when in Arugam Bay right?

So all in all, a coastal getaway with lots of Aussies around for surf and cocktails and just soaking up this warmer weather. A lovely time was had in Arugam Bay. Great food, good vibes and warm sea baths.

Buddhist all-nighter

The Buddhist celebrations were in honour of our friends the Weerasinghe family. We arrived at their house and soon journeyed down to the temple at 9pm with a group of brothers and friends to collect a group of local monks, musicians and dancers. We paraded back to the family home with them guided by the light of flame sticks and following the sounds of drums and a trumpet type instrument I'm not even sure I can name. The dancing was amazing and the traditional gear the four main dancers wore was beautiful. 

Upon arriving at the family home we all gathered inside to sit. I can only assume from here what we sat through was religious chanting and welcomings. We dribbled out in groups to eat some dinner and sure enough it was my first 'eat with your hand, tingle the tongue and make that upper brow sweat' kinda meal. The rituals continued on into the night but Dav and I eventually snuck off to bed to rest our eyes. Needless to say sleep was interrupted multiple times with the loud banging of drums and call and response type chanting just metres from our door (curtain). It was however a lovely welcome to the culture of Sri Lanka. 

We rose early the next day (day 2) to offer breakfast followed by gifts to the monks before taking them back to the temple. It was an absolute whirlwind experience and the family encouraged us to join in as much as we could. Some video footage I caught was certainly encouraged and will be shared at some stage I have no doubt. 

Now for some serious planning before we start to journey off for the next week or so on our own, whilst others head back home or day nap after the huge celebrations last night. 

**Note whilst writing this I asked a couple of the brothers why they chanted because in Buddhism chanting isn't seen as prayer. They said they do it in celebration and to help with concentration. So it is a meditation like process for them.** 

Welcome to Sri Lanka

Well the trip began like any other. Longer flights than anticipated, the struggle to sleep on flights (even as an Asian sized girl in an Asian sized seat) and in flight meals that I couldn't eat. But with a convenient bump into my twin brother as I leave Colombo airport I'm on my way to stay with a local friend in their beautiful house.

Day 1 (Saturday 25th)

Today began with a quick live vid to our sister to say happy birthday from abroad. We didn't get up to much today other than discovering Colombo city and getting the essentials... local sim cards. Walking through a few local shopping centres, catching tuk-tuks to numerous sights and finishing our afternoon in the beautiful Viharamahadevi Park was how the balmy 29 degree day was filled.

Then the adventure that we least expected began as we were picked up from one friends house to head to another's just south of Colombo.

Little did we know we were heading to an all night Buddhist celebration with 50+ other local family and friends.

glamorous

Sometimes there are no pretty pictures to portray a day. Sometimes you feel like today you did nothing outstanding. Sometimes it seems you're just going through the motions of a different day.

Then you take just the tiniest second to ponder one thing you're proud of. It doesn't have to be proven with spectacular images or articulated in colourful language. It's just there. In your mind.

And then it seems, everyday is glamorous after all.

equanimity

"Then at last there is nothing to get by doing something, nothing to lose by doing nothing and no dependencies on anyone for anything." 

Get close with who you are. Observe every thought you have,  then get to know the thing that did the observing. Become so comfortable with the person you are that you are never let down nor pleasantly surprised. Find equanimity in yourself and the mind will be at constant peace.

invert

Sometimes you just have to flip your life upside down. Dig your fingers into the grass. Let your feet float near the clouds. Maybe, just maybe, something great will happen.

progosstination

You're midway through your fifth and final year of study, you just received confirmation you're now a fully qualified yoga teacher, you've had 'the talk' with your bosses about the future and you're flying out of the country in a fortnight. What do you do?

Progosstinate.